Combination coffee table and tray



April 4, 195() P. F. I oEwx-:N 2,502,526

COMBINATION COFFEE TABLE AND TRAY Filed July 9, 1946 @WE ETEA ASTM Patented Apr. 4, v1950 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to tables and more particularly it has reference to a table of the so-called coffee or cocktail type having means -for removably positioning the table top onthe supporting pedestals whereby the top may be easily lifted from the pedestals for use as a serving tray or the like.

One object of my invention is to provide a coiiee or cocktail table wherein the top is positioned on the supporting pedestals without the employment of screws, nails or simiiar attaching means.

Another object oi this invention is to provide a coffee table-with means whereby newspapers or the like may be conveniently suspended in proximity to the top of the table;

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a ta le of the character described with a novel connection or positioning means between the supporting pedestals and the top so that the top may be readily removed for employment as a serving tray yet normally maintained against movement relative to the supporting pedestals.

And another object of the invention is to provide a coffee table having the top detachably positioned on supporting pedestals of lyre configuration which affords an attractive and pleasing appearance regardless of Whether the top is detached from the pedestals for use as a serving tray or in position on the pedestals.

in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred form oi my invention and in which like numerals indicate the same or similar parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my table construction.

Figure 2 is a Sectional View taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

As shown in Figure l, the table generally comprises a top l G which is. removably disposed upon a pair of standards c1' pe'destals l i. The pedestals il are similar in construction and are preferably of lyre outline thus presenting supporting members of a pleasing and artistic appearance. The upper end oi each standard is formed with graceful curves or scrolls l2 and as will be later described, constitute part of the positioning means between the top It and the pedestals il. To maintain standards in correct spaced apart relationship, I connect their upper ends with a pair ci parallel stretcher bars or braces i3, each of which is conveniently secured in the carved upper ends i2. The bars Iamay serveas a convenient hanger for newspapers or thev :like which may be suspended over the bars. Adjacent and easily carried about as a serving tray.

To position the top Iii on the upper ends of the pedestals, the underside of the frame I5 carries a` plurality of block-like members I8, there being one block for each curved upper end I2 of the pedestals. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that each block I8 is provided with a curved recess or groove I9 which conforms to the contour of the upper end i2 and in which the curved upper ends i2 fit when the top is in position on the standards. As seen in Figure 3, the outer ends of the grooves I9 are blocked such as by a flange 2o on the block which engages the outer face of the curved end i2. By reason of the snug t of the curved end in its socket I9 and engagement with the il-anges 2Q relative longitudinal and transverse movement of the top with respect to the standards is effectively prevented and yet a simple construction for removably positioning the top on the supporting stand ards is provided.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that I have provided a novel detachable positioning means between a table top and its supporting structure which will enable the top to be readily lifted from the supporting structure and used as a tray for serving coiee or the like. The lyre-like pedestals present an attractive visual effect and the table makes a pleasing furniture piece even when the top has been removed from the standards. Furthermore, the stretcher bars for bracing the standards may be utilized as a support for newspapers and the like.

I claim:

In a coiee table or the like, the combination of a self-sustaining support .and a detachable, supported tray, said support comprising a pair of vertical lyri-form members the outer, upper extremities of each of which terminate in a pair of spaced curvilinear scrolls, ya horizontal shelf intermediate and connecting the bases of Said lyri-form members, a plurality of horizontal rods intermediate and connecting the outer, upper extremities of said lyri-form members, said shelf and said rods cooperating as stiiening members and being adapted to hold said lyri-form members rigidly in vertical, parallel alignment and to provide a rigid, self-sustaining support, said tray comprising a rectangular frame which surrounds and sustains a at glass panel, a handle at each end edge of said frame, and a plurality of spaced pedestal blocks affixed to the underside of said tray, each of said blocks having a at bottom surface with a countersunk recess therein, said recess being adapted to rest upon and embrace the upper portion of a curvilinear scroll and having a downwardly depending Vertical flange adjacent the outer edge only of each said recess, whereby the recess of each said block rests upon, and embraces but at its outer end side only, the upper portion of a scroll and whereby said tray rests upon said lyri-form members While held against undesired horizontal movement thereon yet may readily be lifted therefrom at Will.

PETER F. LOEWEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 470,668 Fisher Mar. 15, 1892 631,556 Bushnell Aug. 22, 1899 753,678 Dannenberg Mar. 1, 1904 889,600 Gnaumiller et al. June 2, 1908 1,355,486 Longnecker Oct. 12, 1920 1,397,764 Kunishige Nov. 22, 1921 1,422,613 Ogden July l1, 1922 1,738,429 Heyman Dec. 3, 1929 1,814,838 Martin July 14, 1931 2,233,729 Brink Mar. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 438,745 Great Britain Nov. 22, 1935 

